Comments on: Wondering why the school’s closed for snow? Marcus Wood, Conservative PPC for Torbay has the answer

By: Celia

Celia — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:25:28 +0000

I understand about children’s safety but what I would like to know is why children’s nurseries open as normal (even opposite a closed primary school in one case) yet the schools close. According to some of the posts here that would imply that nursery staff are not as concerned about the safety of their children. Surely the risks of accidents on the way to school is the same whether you are 2 or 6 years old. The insurance premiums are presumably similar.
I work for the NHS on the wards. Schools closing is not just a concern for commerce. I wonder how people would react if they were told their relatives care was adversely affected because of staff staying home to look after children when they should be at school.
What do the schools suggest front line workers should do for childcare when they are meant to be at work caring for the sick?

By: graham

graham — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:49:43 +0000

Well said Alan, one can only hope that the electorate of Torbay remember Marcus Wood’s ludicrous comments come election time. Mind you I am a bit worried that a deputy head can’t spell repercussions!

By: Alan Fletcher

Alan Fletcher — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:17:15 +0000

As a serving deputy head who was involved in our decision to close our school on 2 of the 3 snow days this week, I can assure anyone who reads this that attendance targets were not raised once in the discussion I had with my head at 5.30 am each morning…and find it quite insuting that a prospective parliamentary candiate can make such a statement. When police are saying do not travel unless joruney is urgent, we make the decision to keep our kids safe…while we are very aware that childcare problems are likely to follow, if we are not able to guarantee the safety of all 980 of our kids – both en route and on site then we reluctantly have to shut.
I look forward to hearing this candidate’s comment when we have the first child killed as a result of travelling to school on a snow day where the head has had to bow to pressure from local business leaders to open a school in dangerous conditions to protect the econonmy.
These decisions are never taken lightly, and always with awareness of the repecrussions…but can we ever put economic considerations ahead of children’s safety? I hope not…but then I don’t have to make irresponsible comments in order to show how ‘tough’ I am on education to get elected!!!

By: Bill Bailey

Bill Bailey — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:55:49 +0000

I remember when this website was all fields… What an idiot!

By: Suzanne Miec

Suzanne Miec — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:45:38 +0000

Talk about conspiracy theory. If your school is in a rural catchment area, and your teachers and pupils travel considerable distances over icy, hilly roads, what else can you do? Heads really do not want to have to close schools, despite what Mr Wood may think.